A year ago, Wright State was preparing for its season opener versus Division III Mount St. Joseph in a contest that ended up being a complete blowout. This year, WSU’s season opener might be its toughest foe in the nonconference.
The Raiders are set to open tomorrow versus mid-major dynamo Belmont. Belmont was picked to win its division in the Ohio Valley Conference and is coming off a 26-win season.
“You know they’re going to be good, they’re going to be at the top of their league,” Wright State head coach Billy Donlon said. “Gives you a really good idea to start.”
Friday’s matchup is the first of two between the Raiders and Bruins this season. The contest was scheduled as part of an agreement between Belmont and the Horizon League. Belmont became an associate member of the league over the offseason in order to participate in men’s soccer.
In some ways, the two games Belmont has versus Wright State is a test run for possible full Horizon League membership. The league would like to add a 10th member. While Belmont is an outlier geographically, it could potentially be a big addition for the league.
Belmont defeated last year’s Horizon League regular season champs Green Bay in the NIT in March.
Greene County native Evan Bradds is expected to play a huge role in Belmont’s frontcourt this year. Bradds is a player that Donlon and his team know quite well. Donlon tried twice to bring Evan Bradds to WSU.
“We recruited him both times, his dad played at Dayton, his grandfather had (his number retired) at Ohio State,” Donlon said. “He is in our gym a lot over the summer. He’s a great player. He is phenomenal, averaged nine a game.”
Donlon hopes to see an improved effort from last week’s exhibition game when the Raiders won by nine. Donlon said he is hoping to push the tempo through passing rather than running the basketball up the court.
“We didn’t play as fast as we would have liked to,” Donlon said. “Maybe some of that was the lights or guys’ energy drains quicker in a game than practice.”
Wright State guard Chrishawn Hopkins hasn’t been able to play in a season opener since 2011. He is without question excited and happy to get the season underway.
“I am really excited, this is only my second season playing a full season,” Hopkins said. “We have been working on pushing the pace with our guards and that is something that makes me excited.”
Wright State has lost five of its last six times in openers versus Division I opponents. Last year, Wright State lost to three of its first four Division I opponents. Hopkins said the key to getting off to a good start in the season is to get off to a good start in the games.
“Last couple years, we have had bad starts at the beginning of games and he has taken initiative,” Hopkins said. “If we have a bad start in practice, we have to run for it.”
Projected Starters:
Wright State (0-0)
Center - Rod Davis
Forward - Steven Davis
Guards - Chrishawn Hopkins, Reggie Arceneaux, Kendall Griffin
Belmont (0-0)
Center - Tyler Hadden
Forward - Evan Bradds
Guards - Craig Bradshaw, Caleb Chowbay, Taylor Barnette
All-time record versus Belmont:
Wright State is 3-1 all-time versus the Bruins. The last time the two squads played was Nov. 15, 2009 in Seattle. The Raiders won 82-73. Interestingly enough, the two squads have played twice in the same season before. In the 2005-06 season, the teams split a pair with the home team taking both contests.
Last time out:
Wright State won a 68-59 exhibition game over Division II Findlay. The Raiders rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half to defeat the Oilers.
Predictions:
Justin Boggs (Sports Editor of the Guardian): Belmont 76-69. While I think Wright State will benefit from playing up-tempo, the level of opponent is as good as the Raiders will see in the Nutter Center all year. While Belmont also lost a number of key contributers, the emergence of Bradds and the addition of transfer Taylor Barnette will be too much for WSU.
Michael Tyler (Radio personality) Belmont 73-70. The reason is for them, thus is a statement game. As a potential new Horizon League member, they are looking to come out a make a statement. The game will be close, but Belmont will squeak by in the potential shootout
